Stoke boss Tony Pulis has told TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes he has set his side a target of three away wins to avoid relegation this season.

Stoke have picked up a highly respectable 18 points from their first 15 games in the Premier League, but only two of those have come away from home ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle.

Five wins, a draw and two defeats gives the Potters the fourth best home record in the league but their tally of two away points is the worst, with only two other sides - Fulham and weekend opponents Newcastle - yet to pick up a victory on the road.

Pulis is not too concerned for the timebeing, though, and has vowed to put it right as soon as possible.

"We're desperate for a result away from home and it's very important psychologically we do that as quickly as we can," he said.

"I think we've got to win at least three this season and we'll be setting out to get the first on Saturday."

Pulis admits the club's fans have played a massive part in them getting results at home, but he insists some of the away performances have been just as good and that all the Potters have lacked is luck.

He said: "Having 28,000 people behind you gives you a massive lift and the atmosphere at the Britannia has certainly helped us at the Britannia.

"But I think we've done ok away from home, I just don't think things have been dropping for us. You can pick out three or four games where we've been unfortunate not to win and all we need is that little bit of luck. It would be nice to have a couple of decisions away."

One thing Stoke have struggled for away from the Britannia is goals - they have scored just three in the league - but Pulis is refusing to panic so long as chances continue to be made.

He said: At the moment we're creating good chances and not taking them and that was even the case at home against Derby on Tuesday. Ricardo (Fuller) could have four against them, Leon (Cort) missed a few and Mama (Sidibe) missed chances as well.

"So we've had great opportunities and not taken them. It's just getting that final touch and I'm sure the goals will soon come."

Pulis says the dressing room was at a low-ebb following the Carling Cup exit to the Rams but the Welshman is determined to forget the result and concentrate on Premier League survival and this weekend's trip to St James' Park.

"Looking back at the game against Derby you can't fault the players' effort and we could have got through", he said. "We just didn't have the rub of the green and that's the way it works in cup football, either it's your night or it's not your night.

"The lads were very down after the game to have been beaten by a decision that was very debatable, but that's gone now and we've got to move on and look forward to the game against Newcastle. We need a reaction from the players."

Pulis will definitely be without Dave Kitson and Ryan Shawcross for the trip to Tyneside and the Potters boss has revealed there are a handful of other injury concerns going into the game.

He is refusing to complain, though, and is hopeful he will be able to get the majority of his best players out on the pitch on Saturday afternoon.

He said: "The physio has got a room full to deal with this morning so we'll have to see who's fit and who isn't and then think about the team from there.

"A few of them picked up knocks on Tuesday night but you're going to get that every season. This is a three-game week and that's very difficult with the pace of the Premier League and a tough game against Derby as well.

"We've got to be careful with them but we'll dust them down and get them out there. They're all desperate to play, they all want to be part of the first XI and I expect the team I put out on Saturday to run around and have a right go."

Pulis revealed that Kitson was due for an injection on his knee injury on Thursday afternoon, while Shawcross is set to resume training on Monday as his back problem eases up.

Meanwhile Abdoulaye Faye should be fit to start against his former club despite nursing a thigh injury.